In view of a lack of trained personnel in the industry, the Plastics Education Foundation proposes that educators (1) add more plastics programs, (2) establish plastics engineering degrees at appropriate 4-year institutions, (3) add plastics processing technology to current engineering curricula, and (4) interest younger students in courses and/or apprenticeships. Through the Foundation, industry will contribute funds, equipment, and advisory services to schools offering sound programs. A questionnaire, sent to over 4000 firms, showed a serious and growing shortage in all sizes of company. They need plastics training programs, broad and specialized, at all school levels. Most urgently needed are: mold and die makers; supervisors; mold set-up technicians; product designers and draftsmen; cycle and material technicians; quality controllers; processing and finishing specialists; color and mixing specialists. The industry appreciates the chemists and chemical engineers in the polymer and resin fields, but still needs mechanical and industrial engineers, specialists in plastics, who can work on (1) mold and product design, (2) process engineering, (3) automation, (4) analysis and selection of materials, (5) design, selection, and improvement of machinery. With no exposure to plastics in their schooling, current graduates do not understand even the equipment and materials characteristics. A new B.S. degree in Plastics Engineering and wider publicity of the opportunities in the industry are urged. (HH)